0000000000699695
AUTHOR
Johannes Windeln
Insights into Intrinsic Defects and the Incorporation of Na and K in the Cu2ZnSnSe4 Thin-Film Solar Cell Material from Hybrid-Functional Calculations
We have performed density functional theory calculations using the HSE06 hybrid functional to investigate the energetics, atomic, and electronic structure of intrinsic defects as well as Na and K impurities in the kesterite structure of the Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) solar cell material. We found that both Na and K atoms prefer to be incorporated into this material as substitutional defects in the Cu sublattice. At this site highly stable (Na–Na), (K–K), and (Na–K) dumbbells can form. While Na interstitial defects are stable in CZTSe, the formation of K interstitial defects is unlikely. In general, the calculated formation energies for Na-related defects are always lower compared to their K-related…
Hybrid-Functional Calculations on the Incorporation of Na and K Impurities into the CuInSe 2 and CuIn 5 Se 8 Solar-Cell Materials
International audience; We have studied the energetics, atomic, and electronic structure of Na and K point defects, as well as the (Na-Na), (K-K), and (Na-K) dumbbells in CuInSe2 and CuIn5Se8 solar cell materials by hybrid functional calculations. We found that although Na and K behaves somewhat similar; there is a qualitative difference between the inclusion of Na and K impurities. Namely, Na will be mostly incorporated into CuInSe2 and CuIn5Se8 either as an interstitial defect coordinated by cations, or two Na impurities will form (Na-Na) dumbbells in the Cu sublattice. In contrast to Na, K impurities are less likely to form interstitial defects. Instead, it is more preferable to accommod…
Spatial inhomogeneities and defect structures in CIGS and CIS materials: An ab-initio based Monte Carlo study
The chalcopyrite semiconductors CuIn 1−x Ga x Se 2 (CIGS) and CuInSe 2 (CIS) are excellent materials for high efficiency and low cost thin-film solar cells. This is due to the effective absorption of the solar spectrum and the inherent resilience to defects and composition fluctuations. Although the CIGS and CIS material in solar cells is highly inhomogeneous and exhibits a lot of different defects, the cell efficiencies are exceptionally high. If single crystalline absorbers are used, efficiencies are lower. Therefore, studying spatial inhomogeneities and defect structures is of great importance for understanding what supports and what diminishes the efficiency and robustness of the cells.…
Indium-Gallium Segregation inCuInxGa1−xSe2: AnAb Initio–Based Monte Carlo Study
Thin-film solar cells with ${\mathrm{CuIn}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ (CIGS) absorber are still far below their efficiency limit, although lab cells already reach 20.1%. One important aspect is the homogeneity of the alloy. Large-scale simulations combining Monte Carlo and density functional calculations show that two phases coexist in thermal equilibrium below room temperature. Only at higher temperatures, CIGS becomes more and more a homogeneous alloy. A larger degree of inhomogeneity for Ga-rich CIGS persists over a wide temperature range, which contributes to the observed low efficiency of Ga-rich CIGS solar cells.
Spin polarized tunneling at room temperature in a Heusler compound-a non-oxide material with a large negative magnetoresistance effect in low magnetic fields
Summary form only given. Materials which display large changes in resistivity in response to an applied magnetic field (magnetoresistance) are currently of great interest due to their potential for applications in magnetic sensors, magnetic random access memories, and spintronics-a new kind of electronics based on spin instead of charge. Although ferromagnetic manganites show colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effects around their Curie temperature, the low field and nearly temperature independent magnetoresistance properties important for spintronics are found only at low temperatures. Guided by striking features in the electronic structure of several magnetic compounds, we prepared the Heus…